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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 05/19/2026Eden Prairie City Council Approved Minutes 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2026 City Center Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES City Council Members: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey City Staff: City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle, Police Chief Matt Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, and City Attorney Maggie Neuville CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Mayor Case called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. All Council Members were present. II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Open Podium Invitation IV. Proclamations and Presentations A. Heritage Preservation Awards Getschow explained the Heritage Preservation award recognizes an individual, a family, or a business that has made an outstanding contribution to Eden Prairie's historic resources. Getschow introduced Heritage Preservation Commission Chair Bob Bowes to present these awards. Bowes noted that the Heritage Preservation Commission selected two recipients for the 2026 award: Helen Holden Anderson (posthumously) and the Honorable Paul H. Anderson. Ms. Anderson passed away in 2009, but her legacy lives on. Her accomplishments have an enduring value as a respected historian, teacher, and scholar, as she founded the Eden Prairie Historical Society in 1969 and served as President until 1989. Ms. Anderson inspired the community to value historic resources, shared the history of the community through her published book, and created an organization that advocates for and preserves the history of Eden CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES May 19, 2026 Prairie. The Honorable Paul Anderson will accept the award on behalf of his mother, Helen Holden Anderson. Bowes stated the second award is also being presented to the Honorable Paul Anderson, who is a proud descendant of one of Eden Prairie's earliest settler families, and the namesake of Anderson Lakes. Mr. Anderson is the highest- ranking elected official in Eden Prairie's modern history, having won statewide races for the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Honorable Judge Anderson helped his mother form the Eden Prairie Historical Society as a young attorney and assisted in writing the bylaws. Bowes presented the Honorable Judge Anderson with the two awards. The Honorable Judge Anderson noted this award is really about his mother Helen Holden Anderson. Over the years, he has really become invested in this community. As residents passed away, Helen Anderson decided something had to be done to preserve the history. Ms. Anderson recorded all the history she had collected, and the success of the book has been astounding. Kathie Case became a mentee of his mother and helped carry on her legacy. This award means a lot, and Eden Prairie is a special place. V. Approval of Agenda and Other Items of Business Case added there would be a short legislative update under Council Member reports at the end of the meeting. MOTION: Toomey moved, seconded by Narayanan to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0. VI. Minutes MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Freiberg to approve the minutes of the Council workshop held Tuesday, May 5, 2026, and the City Council meeting held Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as published. Motion carried 5-0. VII. Consent Calendar A. Clerk’s List B. Chestnut Townhomes by Red Tail Residential. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-042 for Site Plan Review on 5.72 acres, approve Development Agreement C. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-043 approving Prairie Lakes Business Park 1st Addition final plat CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES May 19, 2026 D. Award 2026 water main rehabilitation project to Bituminous Roadways, Inc. E. Approve professional service agreement for construction administration of 2026 watermain rehabilitation project with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. F. Approve professional service agreement for plaza drive street reconstruction project construction services with WSB G. Approve contract for purchase and installation of water treatment plant security camera system with Bosch Building Technologies H. Authorize standard agreement for professional services for Pleasant Hills Cemetery columbarium expansion construction with WSB & Associates, Inc. MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Toomey to approve Items A-H on the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0. VIII. Public Hearings and Meetings IX. Payment of Claims MOTION: Toomey moved, seconded by Narayanan to approve the payment of claims as submitted. Motion was approved on a roll call vote, with Freiberg, Nelson, Narayanan, Toomey, and Case voting “aye.” X. Ordinances and Resolutions XI. Petitions, Requests, and Communications XII. Appointments XIII. Reports A. Report of Council Members 1. Legislative Update Case noted many residents followed the legislative session closing on Saturday and Sunday. Both the House and the Senate cobbled together a large tax bill and bonding bill. Cities and counties submit requests for inclusion in either the tax or bonding bill. Eden Prairie's requests for Police Department renovation and regional equipment garage funding were included in the bonding bill, which passed. The City was awarded a $2 million grant to put towards that renovation and garage. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES May 19, 2026 Case added the Eden Prairie Mall has been going through efforts to renovate. The City submit a request to extend the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) component by two years to help with renovations. This extension also passed in the tax bill. Getschow noted on a more global scale, many concerning housing proposals (not just to Eden Prairie, but also to other cities), went before the legislature. None of those proposals passed. Case added the City owes a debt of gratitude to the three legislators who carried these proposals: Representative Carlie Kortyza-Witthuhn carried the bills in the House, Senator Steve Cwodzinski carried the bills in the Senate, and Representative Alex Falconer for his lobbying. B. Report of City Manager C. Report of Community Development Director D. Report of Parks and Recreation Director 1. Cedar Hills Bike Park Update Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle provided an update on the Cedar Hills Bike Park. Planning has taken place over the last year. The proposed bike trail will include rollers, jumps, berms, ladders, averages, tunnels, pump tracks, and rock elements designed for riders of all ages and skill levels. The park provides a controlled and accessible environment where people can practice balance and riding techniques. Bike parks are highly inclusive and intergenerational, serving everyone from toddlers on balance bikes to grandparents. The project is intended to encourage outdoor activity and provide a year-round recreational amenity that is highly affordable and a non-team sport. The bike park could improve environmental stewardship by helping restore and better manage parkland currently affected by invasive plants and overgrowth. Another major goal is conservation protection. Providing a riding area would reduce unauthorized mountain biking in other areas. Cedar Hills Park was chosen because it is well connected to the City’s broader trail network, allowing riders to bike directly to the park. Of the 40-acre park, only 15 acres would be used for trails and bike features. Markle noted this project originated after residents expressed frustration over driving to neighboring cities for mountain biking opportunities. City staff conducted extensive planning including meeting with City Council and Commissions, forming a resident Bike Project Committee, design and CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES May 19, 2026 engagement processes, and working with the Minnesota DNR and Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure no endangered species or sensitive habitats would be harmed. Public engagement for the park has been discussed along with future trail ideas in Eden Prairie, so this will not be a standalone site and could be integrated with other trails. Public engagement efforts include a project website, neighborhood meetings, monthly updates with the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, and park signage at the site. Markle noted the City hired a local company called Pathfinders out of Afton, Minnesota, for the design of the park. The Commission went through several design iterations, vetted by the Bike Committee. Construction will begin mid-July, and the park will still be open with signage to provide updates. All the trails will have signage indicating the skill level. Markle stated the site is being prepped for the project with invasive species and hazard tree removal. Fenced entrances will be installed at the Riley Creek Big Woods Conservation area to ensure mountain bikes do not enter. The project timeline began with a City Council work session in the fall of 2025, along with meetings throughout the winter with the Bike Committee and the PRNR Commission. The project design was finalized over the winter along with the project bids, and now they are focusing on engagement and site prep. Construction will begin in July, and the ribbon- cutting will occur in September. Case noted that this is very exciting and sometime next year Markle could provide a report back on the park. E. Report of Public Works Director F. Report of Police Chief G. Report of Fire Chief H. Report of City Attorney XIV. Other Business XV. Adjournment MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Nelson to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 PM. Motion carried 5-0. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES May 19, 2026 Respectfully Submitted, ______________________ Sara Potter, Administrative Support Specialist